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How are you doing today?Oh, you know, Im as good as I can be.
My familys healthy and alive.
But my heart is broken at the same time.
To be honest, it feels weird to talk about a TV show today.
But in a way, Sundays episode was the perfect antidote.
It was such a beautiful, uplifting love story.
And also help people hopefully change their minds and be opened up to a new perspective.
I hope that thats what our show does.
Why are you sometimes angry with yourself?Its tough to have conversations like these in moments like this.
Its that duality of having to do both at the same time.
Sometimes, it feels a little bit conflicting.
Did you participate in any protests this weekend?I went out on Sunday.
Ive been paying attention to everything and reading.
Im constantly FaceTiming and texting and talking to friends whove been out.
Thats one of the things that I really got out of going out.
That is the true power of humanity.
Its not often we see black love stories on TV.
It felt like love.
It felt like friendship.
It felt like soul mates.
It felt like our show is so universal.
There were just so many things about it that were absolutely amazing.
As a viewer, youre so excited to see Issa walk into the bar.
Its also so befitting of that character to have this glow about her as she walks into the room.
Its like God was standing behind her.
You have to humble her just a little bit.
Lawrence doesnt want his stink-ass breath in her face.
They give each other butterflies.
And then TSA Bae shows up!Natasha is the queen of ad-libs on our show.
She crushes every single ad-lib.
And in this case, its TSA Bae.
And then Lawrence pretends hes leaving.
Poor Issa.Theyre going back to their playful nature and who they were as a couple.
When she says something about the Art Walk, what a perfect joke to play on her.No, no.
The restaurant scene where the big conversation takes place is flawlessly written.
How long did you work on that?Its a six-page scene, which is long for us.
But it didnt feel like a six-page scene.
That conversation was deep.
Would they still be together if she hadnt cheated?
I dont think either one ever had a chance to think about that because breakups move so fast sometimes.
He was too hurt.
She was embarrassed and hurt by what she had done herself.
Neither one of them ever got a chance to ask that question.
I think its one of the most beautiful scenes weve ever had on the show.
The writing did all the work.
Issa and I just got to say the words.
Were you surprised to learn that Lawrence bought a ring?Yeah!
Everybody just bust out laughing.
It was such a shocking moment.
They were gonna make the commitment to spend the rest of their life together.
And this is the first time that shes finding that out.
Its the first time that hes ever had the confidence to say it.
Hes probably told no one else in his life.
That Art Walk scene was so romantic and magical.It was amazing to shoot!
Our production designer Kay Lee built this entire set.
It looked like Art Walk.
The scale of it was insane.
It gives you that feeling of happiness and lightness and euphoria.
There was something about just starting the scene walking through those clouds.
Theyre joking with each other and you really get to see why these two were such a great couple.
Lawrence sees Issa in a different way for the first time.
That, to me, was what was so beautiful.
When Issa says, You make me happy, in the apartment, it took my breath away.
It was so moving.
Was it emotional on set?It was truly a beautiful moment.
When we said, Cut!
It was such a cathartic moment.
That is what love is, at least to me anyway.
And to be able to say that to someone whos hurt you, its just such a massive thing.
I remember laughing on set at all the people crying, Yall know this is TV, right?
It was a moment of maturity for Issa.
Hes never really been able to sit down and have those kinds of conversations before, so its growth.
At least, I hope thats what it was.
And Natasha was like, I need you to sit down and to chill.
He sees that shes in a really good place and he sees the woman shes becoming.
You also directed the seventh episode earlier this season.
Having a location shoot in your first directing job seems like a big deal.
Part of it was some episodes had already been given to other directors.
But it wasa lot.
I had to go to Mexico three times to scout.
I had three daylight-specific days, and we were shooting three days before the winter solstice.
But our Mexican crew was absolutely amazing.
And Yvonne Orji got sick, right?On the second day, we shot all the pool stuff.
We were constantly taking [the actors] out, throwing towels around them and robes and slippers.
We shot that whole first scene, and we quickly ate lunch.
Yvonne now has to shoot the towel kiosk scene.
But she gets sick and she starts throwing up pretty bad.
It was the most amazing thing I had ever seen in my life!
We literally had nine minutes because the sun was going down.
Yvonne was such a trooper.
She fought through all of that.
What did you learn about yourself?That Im a masochist?
In a weird way, theres something about having to perform under pressure that I really enjoy.
I also learned that its okay to ask for other peoples perspectives.
[Director of photography] Michelle Lawler was great for that.
I think they will always be in each others lives no matter what happens.
I do truly think theyre soul mates.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
